LETTERS: Taking steps to pedestrian-only

I wholeheartedly agree with letter-writer Sandy McNamee that the city now has the opportunity to create a peaceful, green, pedestrian-friendly uptown, revitalizing and creating new business opportunities.

In 2008/’09, several meetings were held with representatives from TransLink, discussing rerouting the 351 and 354 buses, thus creating a pedestrian-only zone between North Bluff and Thrift. TransLink was not opposed to the idea.

The committee forwarded recommendations to council but, as is the norm, nothing was done.

Lately, public meetings concerning Johnston Road were held involving management consultants and facilitators, some so boring that people walked out.

Saturday, I picked up a document asking 48 questions with five possible answers each. One question reads: “Improved median with fencing.” Are we now going to have a Johnston Road East and West ?

Reminds me of Mayor Wayne Baldwin stating “welcome the Berlin” when a panicked city hall erected two-metre-high gates at railway crossings, supervised by the councillor responsible for relations with the BNSF (City livid over waterfront barricade, June 12, 2014).

Citizens of White Rock who have been around the world know of thousands of pedestrian-only zones in large and small cities: boutiques, four-star restaurants, a band stand, indoor/outdoor coffee shops, trees, benches and fountains all contribute to a relaxed, eco-friendly environment.

In White Rock, such a pedestrian-only zone would be within walking distance of the new highrises going up and, of course, on the doorsteps of the planned condos/apartments just south of North Bluff Road.